Over five years, the filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was in Russian custody. Now he is free again and spoke with DW about his imprisonment, about torture and about his dream to see Putin before the court.
The Russian authorities have left the Ukrainian film Director Oleg Sentsov five and a half years after his arrest in the Crimea at the beginning of September-free. His release took place in the context of a long-awaited prisoner exchange. The DW has met with the Ukrainian film maker, was convicted of Terror charges recently in Berlin.
DW: Tell us what happened in the period prior to their arrest in the Crimea in 2014.
Oleg Sentsov: I was against Russia, against the annexation of the Crimea. And I’ve done plenty of things, which may not have liked some people. [In the Crimea – editor’s note. d. Red.] There was a group of arsonists, who put a party in office [the Kremlin-affiliated party “United Russia”] in the fire. One of the arsonists – a man by the name of Chirniy – thought that would be enough. He wanted something Bigger instigate. He was of the opinion that the group would need a bomb to hunt something in the air. But you also have to say, he was mentally not quite up to par. One of his friends has reported him to the FSB, as he learned of the Plan.
The domestic intelligence service has done nothing – two or three weeks. They read reports, tried to get a picture of the Case. And then there was a command. It is a terrorist organization should be made before the Ukrainian presidential election thing, to show that Ukraine was planning a war of Terror and acts of sabotage in the Crimea. As has reminded the FSB to Chirniys statement and have him summoned. You tortured him and he told them what he knew and what he knew. After that, you have taken another man, Afanasyev, fixed. Also they had him tortured. They asked him: ‘Who is in charge here?’ No greater chief a fell than I am.
At the beginning of September, the staff of the Russian Federation was able to return to Kiev
How did it come ever to your participation?
I was in contact with all of the pro-Ukrainian activists in the Crimea. Everyone knew about their activities know: you have broken a window, a Molotov Cocktail is thrown, some Linoleum and the window sill are burned. It was vandalism, but the FSB made a terrorist attack on the party “United Russia”.
That you would give us the guilt that was already before clear. When they took me, interrogated and tortured, they found nothing and have not left me yet free. You said to me: ‘We will not leave anyone, also you’re guaranteed to prison. You can make it easier for you and name call. Call whoever made the Ukrainian leadership. Then you get seven years. If you refuse, we will make you the head of the Whole, and you get 20 years.’ I refused. They explained to me the mastermind. I got 20 years.
They were tortured?
They interrogated me in the evening, in the night. Employees of the FSB have beaten me with a bag choked me with batons on the heels, and beaten. You have me stripped me and threatened to rape me. This may sound shocking, but that is not what a normal interrogation, which is unusual. I’ve seen a lot and heard in my time in various prisons. I knew this was the gentler treatment.
Read: 5 years in prison: lawyer of film Director Oleg Sentsov reports of conditions of detention
As you stated, a Pro-Ukrainian activists in the Crimea, they belonged to a minority. Why did the majority of the people in the Crimea for another way?
The majority of the population in Crimea speaks anyway Russian. In the 20 years since the independence of Ukraine, there is the attempt to quantize the Crimea ‘Ukraini’. The project was poorly executed and has deterred people more. In addition, Russia has expanded gradually to its so-called “soft power”. It is, for example, cultural events were organized. Everything in the Silent, in order to intensify unnoticed relations.
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Sakharov prize for Olek staff of the Russian Federation
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Sakharov prize – round of applause for an empty chair
The Whole thing began with the occupation of government buildings by Russian special forces on may 27. February 2014. It started with the Maidan protests. I was the entire three months before the place, and I went home to the Crimea, to see my family for a few days. And that’s where I’ve seen the posters, the TV commercials. They all had an Anti-Maidan-Tenor: ‘The fascists from Kiev want us to lay siege.’ Local, Russian media have incited the people, to you told, what in Kiev passing was terrible and fascist. Nazi collaborators would take Power. It’s not even in the approach, true, but people have believed it.
All of this is five-year. Since then, President Petro Poroshenko has lost the last election and the Ukraine with Volodymyr Selenskyj a new President. The success of the Maidan?
We on the Maidan wanted to settle, especially [former President Viktor] Yanukovych, and we have achieved that. Our other demands were not met, at least not completely. We wanted fair elections. We have achieved this goal almost. The defeated parties and independent observers have classified the last election as fair. Irregularities are encountered, but they were not decisive for the outcome of the election. This is a success – also because it has given so far in the Ukraine and in Russia. We have also called for a fair police and fair courts. In the case of the police, there have been some reforms, but rather of a smaller nature. We can also still speak of it, that our courts are fair. It is better than before, but still not as good as we would like.
You once said publicly, they would like to see how Vladimir Putin defended before the International criminal court in The Hague. Did you mean the really so, or, and you have said in the heat of battle?
I will not let me never from my emotions, and certainly, when I speak in public. It is a small dream of mine, because it would be right that he is punished for the crimes against the Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Georgia, to European citizens. Someone needs to. for the Boeing launch [of the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 over Eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 – Anm. d. Red.] the responsibility is clear. Putin ordered the shoot down immediately, but he was a result of his system. The same applies to the 13,000 dead in the war in Donetsk and Luhansk. I want him to testify in The Hague.
About five years Sentsov in a Russian prison was
How could it happen that two countries that are so close to falling, such as Russia and Ukraine, in this Situation?
You have to understand that this conflict takes place between the two countries and peoples. It’s the battle of two world views. Progressive Ukrainians want to live like Europeans, with European Standards, in a free and civilized country. You are against the so-called Russian world view, the Russian Regime, the Putin Regime is represented by people who want to live like in Soviet times. But you can’t go back to the times of the Soviet Union, this time is dead. This value system is doomed to Failure. I lived for five and a half years in Russia. I know the country better than Europe or the Ukraine and I know exactly what happens there.
And what happens there?
The Russian leadership and, with it, a lot of people want to go back to the times of the Soviet Union. Such efforts even for simple people who have nothing. You are on the path to homelessness, but it offers via the [annexation of] Crimea, they set themselves against the United States. Your life improves in any way, but you say phrases like ‘Now we have shown it to the Americans and the Europeans right”. Or: ‘We will make the Ukrainians in the Donetsk and Luhansk cold.’ This is terrible, because the real Problem of today’s Russia is not the political System that does not meet the standards or the economic development that has Stalled. It goes to the advanced decay of the society.
I don’t know what you do about it – but this hopeless social development is scary. A political System can change in a short period of time. I remember that the Soviet Union collapsed within three days. The Yanukovych Regime collapsed within three months. Also, the Putin Regime will end sooner or later, but it will be much more difficult to change the consciousness of the people.
The Interview was edited and condensed.
The Interview was conducted by Vladimir Esipov.